Dischargeable bottom for the pockets of pocket-billiard tables and the like.



F. 0. HOBBS.

DISGHARGEABLE BOTTOM FOR THE POOKETS OP POCKET BILLIARD TABLES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 18, 1914.-

1,11 90 v Patented N0v. 10,1914

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THE NORRIS PETERS Ca. PHOTDTLITHOH WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATEN cur os. 7

FRANK C. HOBBS, OF 'MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BRUNSWICK-BALKE- COLLENDER 00. A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DISCHARGEABLE BOTTOM FOR THE POCKETS or POCKET-BILILIARD TABLES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1914. Serial No. 839,357.

To all whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, FRANK C. Hoses, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city' of Muskegon, in the county'of Muskegon and Stateof Michigan, have nvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Dischargeable Bottoms for the Pockets of Pocket-Billiard Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exactspecification, which will enable others skilled in .the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. a

This invention relates generally to improvements in a dischargeable bottom for the pockets of pocket billiard tables, and it consists, essentially, inthe novel and peculiar combinationof parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set, forth and described and then pointed out in the claims. In the drawings already referred to, which serve to illustrate my said invention more fully, Figure l is an elevation of afragment of a pocket billiard table, showing the dis chargeable bottom asapplied to a corner pocket. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section of a detail of construction at line 4:4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of another detail. i

Like parts are indicated by corresponding symbols and characters of reference in all the figures of the drawing.

The ob'ect ofthis invention is the production of an easily actuated, simple, neat, and efiicient dischargeable bottom applicable to the ball pockets of pocket billiard tables, whereby easy removal of billiard balls dropped into said pockets is accomplished.

To better understand'my invention, I now refer to the drawings, in which- A indicates a fragment of a typical pocket liard ball. The margin of cut out 4* which is crimped improved dischargeable bottom M, which comprises a cylindrical, preferably sheet metallic shell 2 having an inturned and down turned edge 2 at its upper end whereintov the lower end of pocket I is adapted to be made fast. Said shell 2 has around its periphery. a plurality of longitudinal slots 3, throughwhich is laced a fabric or leather band 4 asclearly indicated in. Fig. 3. The

purpose of this band is first to remove the.

billiard balls from intimate contact with the metallic shell and second to afford a certain amount of ornamentation.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914."

At one side of shell 2, at the loweredge thereof, there is a semi-circular cut out 4 of a diameter slightly larger than that of a bil- 1s r0- vided with an in and upturned edge 5 fnto l a protecting strip of fabric or leather 6, which latter prevents contact of the billiard balls with the otherwise sharp margin of the cut out.

The lower end of shell 2 is possessed for half its circumference of an inturned flange 7 to provide a rest for an annular member 8 which is pivoted within the shell 2 at a point forwardly of the medial point or line thereof, as at 9, whereby there Wlll be an overbalance of weight tending to maintain said annular member against said seat or rest 7. Depending from the rear of annular member 8 is a finger 10, which is capable of receiving a counterweight 11 so as to create an additional tendency to maintain the annular member against the rest 7. The object of finger 10 1s to provide means against which thefingersof a hand may be pressed in order to tiltmember 8 about its pivot 9 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to permit the egress, by the force of gravity, of billiard balls within the pocket I.

Annular member 8 may be formed from sheetmetal with an inverted U-shaped cross section. A plurality of prongs 12, Figs. 3 and 4, re pierced from andbent up at right angles to the top face of said member, and are adapted to be pressed into and clenched within a leather washer 13, which is provided as a cushion for the billiard balls dropped into pocket I.

To provide for attachment of the shell 2 to any class or type of pocket other than shown in the drawing, I may apply to the in and down turned edge2 of the shell 2 a strip of leather or like material 14 of suitable width, which in turn may be fixed to the selected pocket, or even attached directly to the pocket irons H if desired.

IVhile herein I have disclosed the preferred mode of practising my invention, 1 may make such changes and alterations therein as might suggest themselves to the v skilled mechanic and permitted under the doctrine of equivalents.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A dischargeable bottom comprising a cylindrical shell'having one side out out at its lower end, the opposite side of said shell having an inturned lower flange, and an annular member pivoted in the lower end of said shell, away from the medial line thereof, a portion of said member being adapted to rest upon said flange.

2. A dischargeable bottom adapted for the reception of billiard balls and the like comprising a cylindrical shell having one side out out at its lower end, said cutout being of smaller size than-the contents of said shell, the opposite side of said shell having an inturned lower flange, and an annular member pivoted in the lower end of said shell away from the medial line thereof, a. portion of said'member being adapted to rest upon said flange.

3. A disch'argeable bottom adapted for the-reception of billiard balls and the like,

comprising a cylindrical shell having onecylindrical shell having one side out out at its lower end, the margin of said cut out being faced with a yieldable fabric, the opposite side' of'said shell having an inturned lower flange, and an annular member pivoted in the lower end of said shell, there 7 being a depending finger on said member.

5. A dischargeable bottom comprising a cylindrical shell having one side cutout at its lower. end, the margin of. said out out being faced with ayieldable fabric, the opposite side of said shell having an inturned lower flange, and an annular member pivoted in the lower end of said shell away from the medial line thereof, there being a depending finger on said member.

6. In combination, a cylindrical shell adapted for the reception of billiard balls and the like, there being a cutout in the side wall thereof at its lower end, of smaller size than said billiard balls, an annular member pivoted within said shell at said lower end away from its medial line thereof in a direction toward said cutout, and means at the lower end of the wall opposite said cutout, preventing the downward movement of the adjacent portion of said member.

7. In combination, an open ended shell adapted for the reception of billiard balls andthe like, there being a cut out in the side wall thereof at its lower end, a member pivoted within said shell, normally clos ng the lower end thereof, and means at the lower end of the wall away from said cut out, preventing the downward movement of the adjacent portion of said member when the same is in normal position.

8. In combination, an open ended shell adapted for the reception of billiard balls and the like, there being a cut out in the side wall thereof at its lower end, a member pivoted within said shell away from its medial line thereof in a direction toward said out out, normally closing the lower end thereof, and means at the lower end of the wall away from said cut out, preventing the downward movement of the adjacent portion of said member when the same is in normal position.

In testimony whereof'I have hereunto setmy hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK C. HOBBS.

In the presence of- J. O. MATTESON, J. O. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

